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Relationship between
scrotal circumference, in situ testicular
measurements and sperm reserves in the West African dwarf
bucks
S. O. C. Ugwu
Department
of Animal Science, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu
State, Nigeria. E-mail:
simqueugwu3@yahoo.com
Accepted
17 February, 2009 |
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Fifteen WAD bucks aged 10 - 12 months and weighing between
14.0 and 16.5 kg were used to determine the relationship
between scrotal circumference (SC), in situ
testicular measurements and sperm reserves. The in situ
testicular measurements were testis length (TL) and testis
width (TW) and these were compared with ex situ
measurements (in excised testes). The results showed no
significant (P>0.05) differences between in situ and
ex situ measurements of TL and TW. SC had highly
significant (P<0.01) correlation with testis (0.86) and
whole epididymal (0.78) sperm reserves. SC was also
significantly correlated with TL (0.72) and TW (0.65), while
TL and TW (in situ) were correlated respectively with
testis sperm (0.70 and 0.55) and epididymal sperm (0.74 and
0.50) reserves. It was concluded that measurements of SC, TL
or TW would provide a reliable guide to sperm production
capacity of testis in WAD bucks and that these measurements
can be applied by farmers in selecting bucks for breeding
purposes.
Key
words:
Bucks, testicular measurements, sperm reserves, scrotal
circumferences. |
